94; IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



The first year two pairs were seen and eggs were col- 

 loctecl from each pair, but after 1892 only one pair returned. 

 Before considering the nesting habits, some observations 

 as to migration, hunting, feeding, etc., may be of interest. 



The birds arrived from the south regularly in the first 

 half of March, the 10th of this month being their earliest 

 appearance, and staid until the latter part of September or 

 first of October. Both birds appeared and left at the same 

 time in the spring and fall. Their coming corresponds 

 very nearly with the arrival of the early flights of water 

 fowl. The hunting habits of these birds is of interest. 

 The male bird seemed to play by far the largest part in 

 the hunting excursions, while the female attended more 

 strictly to household duties, remaining in the vicinity of, 

 if not on the nest. Starting from the nest in the clifl" of 

 the Upper Palisades about 7 a. m., the male bird would fly 

 across and up the river to the bottom lands some distance 

 away. The flight is accomplished by short and rapid 

 strokes of the wings, except when striking the quarry, and 

 occasionally when sailing slowly around near the nest, 

 which is infrequently done. Between 9 and 11 o'clock he 

 returned and alighted in a tall oak snag almost directly 

 across the river from the nest, calling his mate with a 

 sounds like kak, kak,kak, repeated rapidly, starting rather 

 low and uttered with increasing volume, the two would 

 discuss the results of the hunt. 



The early morning seemed to be the favorite time of 

 day for hunting, and they were never seen to hunt in the 

 vicinity of the nest. After the morning meal was eaten 

 the birds were inclined to be rather noisy about the nest 

 till noon, from which time till about 4 p. m., they spent 

 the time quietly resting. The weather affected the hunt 

 very little as the same program was carried out on rainy 

 as well as bright days. They were never seen hunting 

 together, and the same hunting ground was resorted to 

 day after day. 



The female was easily recognized by her greater size 

 and her boldness when the nest was approached. At such 

 times she would come within thtee feet of the intruder, 



